THE PRESIDENT: Your Majesty, thank you very much for bestowing
upon me the award. I'm most honored. I accept it on behalf of the
people of the United States of America. I also thank you and the Crown
Prince and the Prime Minister for your gracious hospitality. I am
really honored to be the first U.S. sitting President to have visited
your country. Perhaps I should say, it's about time.

The American people have a long friendship with the people of
Bahrain. For decades, Bahrain has welcomed the United States Navy --
and is now home to our Fifth Fleet. Two years ago, I was pleased to
sign legislation that strengthened our friendship and our relationship
with the free trade agreement with Bahrain -- it's America's first such
agreement with any nation in the Gulf. This agreement is helping to
pave way to freer and fairer trade between our countries -- so we can
create jobs and opportunity and hope in both our lands.

Our two nations share a common vision for the future of the Middle
East. Through our alliance, we share the burdens and risks of
maintaining security, as well as defending freedom throughout the
region. We also believe in the power of democratic reform. Your
Majesty, I appreciate the fact that you're on the forefront of providing
hope for people through democracy. Your nation has held two free
elections since 2000
-- and in 2006, your people elected a woman to your parliament.
Bahrain's reforms are making your nation stronger. You're showing
strong leadership, and you're showing the way forward for other nations.

Your Majesty, I look forward to our meetings later today. I look
forward to discussing how we can continue to advance peace in the Middle
East. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences that I had in
Israel and the Palestinian Territories. I look forward to talking about
how we can continue to ensure security in the Gulf. Together we will
continue to strengthen our friendship and our cooperation, and I'm proud
to be with you, sir. (Applause.)